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Sirius Black leaned back in the corner of the Gryffindor common room, a grin tugging at his lips as he surveyed the chaos around him. The place looked like it had been hit by a cheerful hurricane. Streamers hung from the ceiling, half of them drooping where someone had accidentally knocked the charm loose. Cups littered every surface, and the music from the old wizarding wireless was loud enough to shake the floorboards. Gryffindor’s finest—fifth, sixth, and seventh years—were thoroughly celebrating the seventeenth birthday of their beloved Head Boy, James Potter.
“Prongs, you lucky git,” Sirius muttered to himself, watching a group of fifth years attempting to charm their Butterbeer bottles to refill themselves. James had been the life of the party not an hour ago—accepting a toast from Mary Macdonald, arm-wrestling one of the Beaters, and valiantly trying to drink Sirius under the table (a challenge he was, predictably, losing).
But now… James was missing.
Sirius glanced at the door, half-expecting his best friend to come swaggering back in, glasses askew, ready to reclaim his throne. Instead, a wave of drunken singing rose from the other side of the room as someone started a bawdy rendition of A Cauldron Full of Hot, Strong Love.
“Where’s the birthday boy?” Sirius asked Remus Lupin, who was leaning against the fireplace with a suspiciously sober look for someone who had been knocking back drinks all evening.
“Disappeared about twenty minutes ago,” Remus replied. “I thought he went upstairs, but I checked the dorm. Empty.”
Sirius frowned, a flicker of concern breaking through his tipsy haze. James didn’t just vanish from his own party. “Did anyone see where he went?”
Peter Pettigrew, sitting cross-legged on the carpet with a plate of half-eaten pumpkin pasties, shrugged. “Could be the loo?”
“For twenty minutes?” Sirius scoffed. “What’d he do, fall in?”
Mary Macdonald, who had been perched on the edge of the armchair nearest Sirius, chimed in, her words slurring slightly. “Last I saw him, he was over by the drinks. Talking to Marlene, maybe?”
“Marlene’s still here,” Sirius said, gesturing toward the blonde, who was currently attempting to teach a tipsy Keeper how to waltz.
“Maybe Peeves got him,” Peter suggested, snorting at his own joke.
“That poltergeist wouldn’t dare,” Sirius said, though he didn’t sound entirely convinced.
Sirius pushed himself upright, wobbling slightly before steadying himself against the chair. “Right, this won’t do. Can’t have our Head Boy missing on his own bloody birthday. C’mon, lads and lasses, search party time.”
“What, now?” Remus asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes, now!” Sirius said, his voice rising above the din. “We’re Gryffindors! We don’t leave a man behind.”
Peter groaned but scrambled to his feet, clutching the remains of his pasty. Mary gave a dramatic sigh and stood as well, steadying herself on the arm of the chair. Sirius waved over the Quidditch team—who, by this point, were well into their cups—and within minutes, a ragtag group of drunk Gryffindors was stumbling out through the portrait hole.
“Right,” Sirius said as they gathered in the corridor. “Fan out, but don’t wander too far. If you see a teacher, yell Mimbulus Mimbletonia and leg it. Got it?”
“Got it,” the group chorused, though none of them seemed particularly clear on the plan.
The castle at night was eerily quiet, the sounds of the party fading as the group moved deeper into the corridors. Sirius led the way, his wand drawn, though he wasn’t entirely sure whether it was for light or for dramatic effect. Behind him, Remus muttered something about how this was a terrible idea, while Peter stumbled along, laughing at nothing in particular.
“Do you think he’s with a girl?” Mary whispered to Sirius, giggling. “Wouldn’t that be something? The famous James Potter sneaking off for a midnight rendezvous?”
Sirius snorted. “Not bloody likely. All the Gryffindor girls are accounted for, and as much as I’d love to tease him about snogging a Hufflepuff, I can’t see it happening.”
“Maybe a Ravenclaw, then,” Mary said thoughtfully. “Or a Slytherin.”
Sirius barked a laugh. “Oh, that’d be rich. Can you imagine Prongs snogging a Slytherin? He’d rather eat his own broomstick.”
They rounded a corner, Sirius waving for silence as they approached a particularly dark stretch of corridor. He paused, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of their missing Head Boy.
“This is pointless,” Remus said, his voice low. “He’s probably just hiding upstairs, waiting for us to give up and go back to the party.”
“Prongs wouldn’t miss his own party,” Sirius argued. “Not without a damn good reason.”
“Or a damn good distraction,” Mary quipped, earning a laugh from the group.
They were about to turn back when Sirius caught something—soft giggling, just audible above the group’s drunken chatter. He held up a hand, signaling for silence. The others stumbled to a halt, shushing each other in exaggerated whispers.
“Did you hear that?” Sirius murmured.
“Hear what?” Peter asked, squinting into the darkness.
“Shh!” Sirius hissed, his ears straining. There it was again—a low, breathless laugh, followed by the murmur of voices.
He turned to the group, his grin wolfish. “Found him.”
“Where?” Mary whispered.
“Stay here,” Sirius said, motioning for the others to press themselves against the wall. He crept forward, his footsteps light despite the alcohol coursing through his system.
The voices grew clearer as he approached the corner. One of them—undeniably James’s—was speaking in low, hurried tones, punctuated by the occasional laugh. The other voice was quieter, harder to make out, but distinctly feminine.
Sirius peeked around the corner, his grin widening. There, standing in the dim light of a nearby sconce, was James Potter. His hair was more of a mess than usual, sticking up in every direction as though someone had been running their hands through it. His shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, and his neck and collarbone were peppered with lipstick marks—some smeared, others perfect crimson ovals. His glasses were crooked, and his face bore an expression of mingled triumph and guilt.
James froze when he saw Sirius. For a moment, the two stared at each other, the silence stretching taut. Then James turned to the side, speaking to someone still hidden around the corner.
“They’ve found us,” he said simply, his voice tinged with resignation.
Sirius stepped into view, his arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Well, well, well. Happy birthday, Prongs. Care to explain what you’ve been up to?”
The rest of the group emerged from their hiding spot, their laughter bubbling up as they took in James’s disheveled appearance. Mary let out a dramatic gasp. “Potter! What have you done?”
James raised his hands in surrender. “Look, can we keep this quiet? Just… don’t tell the whole bloody school, all right?”
“And miss out on this?” Sirius said, gesturing to the lipstick marks. “Not a chance, mate.”
“Who is it?” Marlene demanded, her eyes narrowing. “All the Gryffindor girls were at the party, so—”
“Don’t,” James said quickly, but the sheepish look on his face gave him away.
Sirius’s grin widened. “Merlin, you didn’t kidnap some poor Hufflepuff, did you? Or was it a Slytherin? Tell me it was a Slytherin.”
James sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Can you all just—”
He turned back toward the corner, and Sirius followed his gaze. Slowly, reluctantly, the mystery girl stepped into view.
It was Lily Evans.
Her cheeks were as red as the lipstick smudged on James’s neck, her green eyes bright with both embarrassment and defiance. She crossed her arms, glaring at the group. “Go on, then. Get it out of your systems.”
Sirius stared at Lily, his mouth falling open before splitting into a wide grin. “Well, this is bloody brilliant,” he said, breaking the stunned silence. “The girl of your dreams and your birthday wish all in one night, Prongs. I’m impressed.”
James, still standing awkwardly in the middle of the corridor, tried to straighten his shirt, though the crooked buttons didn’t do much to improve his look. He glanced nervously between Sirius and Lily, his cheeks redder than they had ever been during a Quidditch match.
“Sirius, mate,” James started, but Sirius wasn’t done.
“And Evans, really?” Sirius teased, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Head Girl, slinking about in dark corners, leaving her mark—literally—on our dear Head Boy. What would McGonagall say?”
“She’d say I have detention for the rest of my life,” Lily snapped, her hands on her hips. Despite the fire in her voice, her cheeks burned brighter, and she avoided meeting James’s eyes. “Which is exactly what will happen if you don’t all stop gawking and get back to your party.”
“Oh, we’re not going anywhere,” Mary said, her voice tinged with awe and delight as she sidled up beside Sirius. “Lily Evans sneaking off to snog James Potter? This is the stuff of legends.”
“I didn’t sneak off,” Lily said hotly. “And for the record, I wasn’t the one with the brilliant idea to disappear in the middle of the party.”
“Evans,” James muttered, running a hand through his hair again. “Not helping.”
“I’m not the one who got caught,” she shot back, her green eyes flashing.
By now, the rest of the group was fully enjoying the show. Marlene leaned against the wall, barely containing her laughter, while Peter had a hand pressed to his mouth, trying—and failing—not to snort. Even Remus looked amused, though he hid it behind a careful sip from a flask.
“This,” Sirius declared, gesturing between Lily and James, “is the highlight of my week. No, my month. Maybe even my year.”
“Shut it, Padfoot,” James groaned, rubbing his temples. He shot Lily a helpless look. “See what you’ve done? Now they’ll never let me live this down.”
“What I’ve done?” Lily sputtered, throwing her hands in the air. “You’re the one parading around the castle looking like you’ve been attacked by an overenthusiastic set of lips!”
Sirius let out a bark of laughter. “She’s got a point, Prongs. You do look like you’ve been ambushed.”
“You lot are insufferable,” Lily muttered, pinching the bridge of her nose.
“Insufferable, maybe,” Sirius said, grinning at her. “But you love us, Evans. Clearly, you’ve got a soft spot for Gryffindor troublemakers.”
“Keep talking, Black,” Lily said coolly, though the corner of her mouth twitched upward. “See how fast you lose that spot on the Quidditch team.”
“Can we focus on the important bit here?” James interjected, stepping between Sirius and Lily. “The part where you lot forget this ever happened?”
Sirius raised an eyebrow. “You really think we’re going to forget this?”
“Worth a try,” James muttered.
“Not bloody likely,” Mary said, smirking. “This is the kind of story we’ll be telling our grandchildren.”
James groaned. “You’re all traitors.”
“Traitors? Us?” Sirius clutched his chest dramatically. “We’ve spent the last twenty minutes stumbling through the castle, risking life, limb, and detention to find you. And this is the thanks we get?”
“You weren’t risking detention,” James pointed out.
“Details,” Sirius said, waving him off.
Lily let out a long sigh, her shoulders sagging. “Can we just… go back to the common room? Please? I’ve had enough of this circus.”
“Not so fast,” Sirius said, his grin widening. “I’ve got questions.”
“Of course you do,” Lily muttered.
“Where were you two hiding? My money’s on an empty classroom. Or maybe a broom cupboard?”
“Black—” Lily warned.
Sirius ignored her, turning to James. “Prongs, mate, was this a spontaneous snogging session, or did you plan it? Do you have secret rendezvous spots? Oh, and whose idea was it to—”
“Shut up, Sirius!” James burst out, his face as red as Lily’s lipstick. “Merlin’s sake, just shut up!”
The group dissolved into laughter, Sirius practically doubling over, while Lily pinched her nose again in a vain attempt to maintain her composure.
Eventually, Sirius relented, clapping James on the back as the group turned to head back toward the common room.
“You know,” he said conversationally, “this explains a lot. The mysterious disappearances, the weird mood swings… Merlin, I thought you were just pining.”
“I was not pining,” James said defensively.
“Sure you weren’t,” Sirius said, smirking.
“Are you going to keep this to yourselves or not?” Lily cut in, her voice sharp.
“Evans,” Sirius said solemnly, “for you, I’ll consider it.”
James sighed in relief, but Sirius wasn’t done. “On one condition.”
Lily crossed her arms. “What?”
Sirius’s grin turned wicked. “I get to call you Mrs. Potter at least once before we graduate.”
“Black!” Lily and James shouted in unison, but the rest of the group burst into laughter, the sound echoing down the corridor as they stumbled back toward the Gryffindor tower.
The Gryffindor common room was still roaring with energy when the group returned. The music was loud, the fire in the hearth crackling cheerfully, and the air thick with the mingling scents of Butterbeer and spilled Firewhisky. As they stepped through the portrait hole, Sirius couldn’t resist letting out a loud, triumphant announcement.
“Fear not, Gryffindor! Your beloved Head Boy has been located and returned to you!”
A cheer erupted, a mix of drunken hollers and laughter. James winced at the sudden attention, his cheeks still tinged pink. Lily muttered something about Sirius being “an absolute menace” under her breath, but her voice was drowned out by the uproar. She quickly slipped to the side, disappearing into the crowd before James could figure out what to say to her.
James hesitated in the middle of the room, running a hand through his already disastrous hair. He could still feel the warmth of her lips on his neck, the faint ghost of her touch lingering on his skin. But now that they were back in the crowded common room, surrounded by half their house, uncertainty crept in.
Did she want him near her? Was she embarrassed? Or worse—did she regret it?
The crowd surged around him, people clapping him on the back and handing him fresh drinks. He plastered on a smile, though his eyes darted toward the spot where Lily had disappeared. He barely registered Sirius draping an arm over his shoulder.
“Prongs, my man,” Sirius said, his voice oozing mischief. “You’ve got lipstick on your ear.”
James groaned, swiping at his face in a futile attempt to erase the evidence. “For Merlin’s sake, can you not?”
“Not what?” Sirius grinned, feigning innocence. “Congratulate you on your spectacular success? Honestly, I’m proud of you.”
“Leave him alone, Black,” Marlene chimed in, appearing at Sirius’s side. Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Though, I do have to ask… is this a one-time thing, or are you planning to make it a regular occurrence? Because if so, you’re going to need better hiding spots.”
James’s ears turned a deep shade of red. “Can you lot not talk about it here?”
“Oh, we’re definitely talking about it,” Sirius said, steering James toward the nearest sofa. “But fine, I’ll try to be subtle. Evans seemed… eager.”
Marlene laughed loudly, causing several people nearby to glance over curiously. James buried his face in his hands.
“Prongs, relax,” Sirius said, dropping onto the sofa beside him and throwing an arm over his shoulders. “You’re overthinking it.”
James peered at him through his fingers. “Am I? Because it feels like you’re making it worse.”
“Worse? Me?” Sirius gasped, clutching his chest in mock outrage. “Mate, I’m doing you a favor. You’ve finally got a shot with the girl you’ve been pining over since second year, and you’re sitting here like a sad sack instead of celebrating.”
James groaned. “She ran off the second we got back.”
“She’s not running,” Sirius said, waving him off. “She’s probably just… recalibrating.”
“Recalibrating?” James repeated, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, you know,” Sirius said, gesturing vaguely. “Adjusting to the fact that she just snogged the most handsome, charming, and modest Head Boy Hogwarts has ever seen.”
“Modest, huh?” Marlene said, raising an eyebrow as she plopped onto the armrest.
“Exactly,” Sirius said, ignoring the sarcasm. “She’s probably wondering how she got so lucky.”
James couldn’t help but laugh at that, though the tension in his shoulders didn’t fully ease.
To distract James—and to keep the mood lively—Marlene suggested a drinking game.
“Firewhisky Roulette!” she declared, holding up a tray of drinks, some of which were charmed to be far stronger than others.
The group gathered around, laughing and groaning as each person took a drink and waited for the telltale sign of having chosen a “spiked” one—an immediate, uncontrollable hiccup followed by a brief bout of hiccupping bubbles. Sirius was the first to fall victim, much to everyone’s delight, though he claimed he’d “done it on purpose” for comedic effect.
As the game went on, the atmosphere in the room grew more relaxed. James, to his relief, noticed Lily rejoining the group. She slid into a spot on the opposite side of the circle, her expression still tinged with embarrassment but no longer as guarded. She didn’t seem to mind being near him—if anything, she seemed determined to act normal, as though the earlier encounter hadn’t thrown her for a loop.
James took his turn, grimacing as he downed a surprisingly strong drink. He caught Lily’s eye across the circle, and she offered him a small, hesitant smile. His heart did an enthusiastic flip, and for the first time since they’d been caught in the corridor, he started to relax.
As the drinking game wound down, the music in the common room grew louder, and people started dancing. Someone had conjured fairy lights that floated above the room, casting a warm glow over the crowd.
“Come on, Prongs,” Sirius said, pulling James to his feet. “Birthday boys don’t sulk in corners. Let’s dance.”
James rolled his eyes but allowed himself to be dragged into the throng. He was quickly passed between friends, spinning Marlene, laughing with Mary, and even managing a slightly clumsy jig with Peter. For a while, he let himself get lost in the music and the laughter, his earlier nerves fading.
At one point, he found himself dancing near Lily. She was laughing with Mary, her cheeks flushed from the heat of the room and the drinks. When she noticed him, she raised an eyebrow, as if daring him to come closer.
He took the challenge, stepping into her space and offering a crooked grin. “Dance with me?”
She hesitated, her expression unreadable. Then, with a small sigh that seemed more amused than annoyed, she placed her hands on his shoulders. “Just don’t step on my toes.”
“Not a chance,” he promised, though he was fairly certain he did step on her foot once or twice during their impromptu waltz.
Hours later, the party was still in full swing, though the crowd had thinned as some students staggered off to bed. Sirius was sprawled on the sofa with a Butterbeer in hand, his hair a mess and his tie dangling loosely around his neck.
“Oi,” he said, sitting up suddenly. “Where’s Prongs?”
The question drew a few laughs, but no immediate answers. Sirius glanced around, his gaze narrowing as he realized James was, indeed, missing again.
“Prongs!” he called, his voice cutting through the noise. “Where are you, you sneaky git?”
“Maybe he fell asleep under the table,” Peter suggested, giggling.
“Or he’s off plotting some elaborate prank,” Remus said, though his tone was doubtful.
“I know where he is,” Marlene said, her voice loud and slurred. She raised her drink as though offering a toast. “He’s fine. Probably more than fine, actually.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sirius asked, though he was already grinning.
Marlene smirked, leaning closer. “Evans is missing too.”
The room erupted into laughter, people shouting playful remarks about the Head Boy and Head Girl. Sirius laughed so hard he nearly spilled his drink, and when he caught his breath, he pointed toward the boys’ dormitory stairs.
“Guess we’re sleeping on the couch tonight, lads,” he said to Peter and Remus. “No way we’re interrupting that.”
“Agreed,” Peter said, hiccupping.
Remus shook his head but didn’t argue, settling deeper into his chair with a resigned smile.
“Happy bloody birthday, Prongs,” Sirius muttered to himself, a grin tugging at his lips as the party carried on.
---
The Gryffindor common room was a disaster zone. Empty Butterbeer bottles littered the tables, a pile of crumpled party hats sat abandoned on the floor, and someone—probably Sirius—had managed to charm the fairy lights to form a glowing, winking face above the fireplace. The room was eerily quiet, save for the occasional groan from one of the hungover students sprawled across the sofas and armchairs.
Sirius was one of the few awake, though the term “awake” was generous. He sat slouched in an armchair, his hair a wild mess, clutching a mug of strong coffee like it was a life preserver. Beside him, Marlene and Mary were sharing a blanket, their heads pressed together as they whispered and occasionally broke into soft giggles. Remus was perched near the window, reading—because of course, he would find time for a book, even with a raging headache. Peter, on the other hand, was snoring softly in the corner, an empty Butterbeer bottle still clutched in his hand.
The peaceful scene was shattered when the door to the staircase creaked open, and James and Lily stepped into the room.
At first, no one noticed them. James paused, his hand hovering over the small of Lily’s back as he surveyed the room with a sheepish smile. Lily stood beside him, her hair a bit messier than usual, her cheeks tinged pink as she avoided making eye contact with anyone.
“Morning James,” Remus offered smugly.
It was like tossing a firework into the room. Heads snapped up, and a chorus of groans, whistles, and cheers erupted from the scattered Gryffindors. Mary let out an exaggerated oooh, Marlene wolf-whistled loudly, and Sirius slammed his coffee mug down on the table with a loud thunk.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Sirius said, standing up and spreading his arms theatrically. “Our fearless leaders, the Head Boy and Head Girl, fresh from their romantic escapades!”
“Shut up, Sirius,” Lily said, though her voice lacked its usual sharpness. She crossed her arms over her chest, her blush deepening as she stared him down.
“Don’t mind us, Evans,” Sirius continued, grinning from ear to ear. “We’re just so proud. Tell me, how does it feel to finally succumb to the raw, animal magnetism of James Potter?”
James groaned, running a hand through his hair. “Sirius, for Merlin’s sake.”
“Oh, don’t you start,” Sirius said, pointing at him. “You, my friend, have been unbearable for years. Do you know how many late-night ‘Lily’s so perfect’ speeches I’ve endured? This is my reward.”
“Reward?” Lily repeated, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
Marlene snorted into her hand. “You’ve got to admit, he’s got a point.”
Sirius smirked and leaned casually against the armchair. “Come on, Evans. You’ve kissed him now—probably more than kissed, judging by the state of his shirt last night. What’s next? Matching sweaters? A romantic picnic on the Quidditch pitch? Or maybe—”
“Black!” Lily shouted, her face flaming.
Without warning, Lily lunged at Sirius, her hands outstretched as if she intended to throttle him. Sirius, laughing hysterically, dodged to the side and darted around the coffee table.
“Lily! Let it go!” James called, though his tone was more amused than concerned.
“Not a chance!” Lily shot back, chasing Sirius around the room.
The hungover Gryffindors perked up at the spectacle, cheering Lily on as she pursued Sirius. Peter woke up just in time to see Sirius vault over the back of the sofa, narrowly avoiding Lily’s grasp.
“Evans, you’re proving my point!” Sirius yelled, skidding around a chair. “You’ve gone full Potter-crazy!”
“That’s it!” Lily growled. “I’m hexing you!”
“Oi, no magic in the common room!” Remus called, though he didn’t seem particularly inclined to intervene.
Lily reached for her wand, but before she could draw it, James stepped in. With a smoothness that came from years of Quidditch training, he grabbed her by the waist and swung her up and over his shoulder.
“Put me down!” Lily protested, pounding her fists lightly against his back.
“Not until you calm down,” James said, his voice light and teasing as he adjusted her weight.
The room erupted into laughter, Sirius leaning against the wall for support as he howled. “Prongs! I take it back—you’re my hero!”
“Shut it, Sirius,” James said, though he was grinning as he carried Lily toward the stairs.
“James Potter, I swear—if you don’t put me down this instant—”
“You’ll what?” James asked, glancing over his shoulder at her with a playful smirk. “Chase me too?”
Lily huffed, though the corner of her mouth twitched as if she was trying not to smile. “You’re impossible.”
“Yeah, but you like me anyway,” James said, ascending the stairs to the boys’ dormitory.
The common room erupted into fresh laughter and cheers as James disappeared from view, Lily still slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
Back in the common room, Sirius collapsed onto the sofa, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.
“Well,” he said, grinning at the room. “That’s one way to handle a Head Girl on a rampage.”
Marlene shook her head, though she was smiling. “You’re incorrigible, Black.”
“Thank you, thank you,” Sirius said, bowing dramatically.
Peter yawned and stretched, still half-asleep. “Do you think James is actually going to calm her down, or…?”
“Not a chance,” Remus said, flipping a page in his book. “But he’ll enjoy the attempt.”
Sirius grinned, leaning back in his chair as the room settled into a contented buzz. “Happy days, lads. Happy days.”